Measure A Forms

Measure A Parcel Tax (2011)

Introduction

On March 8, 2011 68.01% of Alameda voters approved Measure A, a parcel tax designed to generate for the school district approximately $12 million per year for seven years. The measure's revenues support a range of core programs and values in AUSD, including: small class sizes; neighborhood schools; high school athletics; music, PE, and media centers in elementary schools; fine arts classes in high schools; innovative programs; and attracting and retaining excellent teachers.

Measure A Oversight Committee

To ensure public accountability and fiscal transparency, Measure A provides for an Oversight Committee to "review District compliance with the terms of this Measure." The committee meets with district staff four to five times a year to review Measure A revenues and expenditures. District staff also give presentations on Measure A revenues and expenditures at public Board of Education meetings at least three times a year.

You can read more about the Measure A Oversight Committee, including the agendas and presentations for every meeting the committee has held, here. Annual staff and committee reports on Measure A revenues and expenditures are available in the right-hand column of this page. You can see the text of Measure A here.

Frequently Asked Questions about Your Measure A Assessment

Following are answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the implementation of Measure A. The FAQs also include links to new forms for requesting exemptions from the tax and for appealing for a correction of tax bills.

Revenues raised by Measure A are authorized to be used only for those educational programs and activities set forth in eleven specific categories set forth in Measure A. The Measure specifies the percentage of Measure A revenues that can be spent for each category, as follows:

(1) Maintaining Small Class Sizes – 13-14%

(2) Maintaining High Quality Neighborhood Elementary Schools – 7-8%

(3) Secondary School Choice Initiative and AP Courses – 7-8%

(4) Programs to Close the Achievement Gap – 15-16%

(5) High School Athletics Programs – 4%

(6) Enrichment Programs – 9-10%

(7) Attract and Retain Excellent Teachers – 25-26%

(8) Counseling and Student Support Services – 6%

(9) Alameda Charter Schools – 3-4%

(10) Technology – 5%

(11) Adult Education – 4%

In addition, the text of Measure A requires that 1.5-2% of its total revenues be set aside for “expenses to administer the District’s parcel tax, and costs to implement accountability provisions to ensure fiscal transparency through public information, translation services for the District families and support of the Oversight Committee.” The revenues available for the eleven specific categories established by Measure A are calculated after the 1.5% is set aside for these accountability and transparency purposes.

Since 2011-2012 (the first year the tax was administered), Measure A funds have been allocated and expended in accordance with the measure's mandate.

How is my tax assessment under Measure A calculated?

Measure A assesses all non-exempt parcels with buildings at a rate of $0.32 per building square foot, up to a maximum of $7999. It assesses all non-exempt parcels without buildings $299.

What should I do if I disagree with the building square footage that was used to calculate my tax assessment?

Measure A states that in determining the building square footage of Taxable Real Property, AUSD shall refer to the data reported by the County Office of Assessor, except in cases of demonstrable error.

Any person seeking to appeal the building square footage used to determine his or her assessment under Measure A must first complete and file a Property Characteristic Change Form at the County Office of Assessor. Click to download the Property Characteristic Change Formfrom the Administrative Assistant to the General Counsel & Senior Program Manager at 2060 Challenger Dr, Alameda, CA 94501 and from the County Office of Assessor.

If the Assessor grants the requested change, the person must then submit a copy of the Property Characteristic Change Form, including evidence confirming the Assessor’s approval of the requested change, and a Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Application to AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at the following address: Parcel Tax Administrator, Attn: AUSD Measure A Appeal, 4745 Mangels Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94534.

Click to download the Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Application from the Administrative Assistant to the General Counsel & Senior Program Manager at 2060 Challenger Dr, Alameda, CA 94501. Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Applications may also be requested by phone by calling AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at (800) 273-5167.

It is important to note that the filing of a Property Characteristic Change Form does not relieve any person of the responsibility to pay the tax assessment. In order to avoid default and other negative consequences that may ensue for failure to pay this and any other tax assessments, all taxpayers should pay the full assessed amount while their request is being processed.

What should I do if I disagree with my tax assessment under Measure A for a reason other than the building square footage used to calculate the tax?

Any person seeking a correction to the Measure A assessment on their property tax bill for any reason other than building square footage used to calculate the tax must submit a Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Application to AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at the following address: Parcel Tax Administrator, Attn: AUSD Measure A Appeal, 4745 Mangels Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94534.

Click to download the Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Application from the Administrative Assistant to the General Counsel & Senior Program Manager at 2060 Challenger Dr, Alameda, CA 94501. Measure A Parcel Tax Correction Applications may also be requested by phone by calling AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at (800) 273-5167.

Are senior citizens and people receiving SSI exempt from Measure A, as they have been for previous school parcel taxes in Alameda?

Yes. Individuals who have already received exemptions under the previous school parcel taxes, Measure H and the old Measure A, will continue to receive those exemptions and do not need to re-apply for an exemption to Measure A.

Any person who is 65 years of age or older and who owns and occupies a parcel of Taxable Real Property as his/her principal place of residence, may apply for an exemption from the tax for that parcel. Any person who receives Supplemental Social Security Income and who owns and occupies a parcel of Taxable Real Property as his/her principal place of residence, may apply for an exemption from the tax for that parcel.

The “Senior” Exemption Request Form and “SSI” Exemption Request Formare available as well as from the Administrative Assistant to the General Counsel & Senior Program Manager at 2060 Challenger Dr, Alameda, CA 94501. Applications may also be requested by phone by calling AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at (800) 273-5167.

Questions about the “Senior” Exemption Request Form and “SSI” Exemption Request Form should be directed to AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at (800) 273.5167.

A request for an exemption should be submitted to AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator at the following address: Parcel Tax Administrator, Attn: AUSD Exemption, 4745 Mangels Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94534.

Applicants for exemptions are advised strongly to keep a copy of their application.

It is important to note that the filing of a request for an exemption does not relieve any person of the responsibility to pay the tax assessment. In order to avoid default and other negative consequences that may ensue for failure to pay this and any other tax assessments, all taxpayers should pay the full assessed amount while a request for an exemption is being processed.

How long should I expect an appeal or request for a refund to take?

The District and its parcel tax administrator will make every reasonable effort to respond promptly to any appeal and to issue any refund that is due. Except in extraordinary circumstances, District staff will respond no later than 60 days after an appeal or request for refund is submitted to AUSD’s Parcel Tax Administrator. Following the District’s response, the property owner may appeal District staff’s response to the Superintendent within 21 days of receiving staff’s response. The Superintendent will issue a final and binding decision on the appeal or refund within 30 days of receiving the appeal.